1780 Michelle de Bonneuil - Colourfull

A Vivid Revival of 18th-Century Florals

This design is based on an original 18th-century textile fragment preserved in the Cooper Hewitt collection. The motif reflects the vivid colour values typical of the 1780s, where bright greens and saturated florals were far more common than what survives today. The print captures that historical intensity and brings back the visual impact these textiles originally delivered.

The fabric is produced on a structured cotton cretonne, offering the right hand-feel and durability for 18th-century dressmaking. For a standard gown build, allocate approximately five to seven metres. Begin by drafting the back panels to secure the correct silhouette and achieve a clean period-accurate cut.

This fabric is named in honour of Michelle Sentuary (1748–1827), later known as Madame de Bonneuil — a figure who moved at the intersection of politics, diplomacy and culture during the late 18th century. Born on Île Bourbon and active in Paris, she was noted in her own time for both intelligence and presence, inspiring writers such as André Chénier and earning recognition as a woman of exceptional character.

Her life reflects the volatility of the Revolutionary era. From 1791 onward she became involved in several counter-revolutionary initiatives, including the ill-fated escape attempt organised from the hôtel d’Esclignac, which resulted in her arrest on 18 April 1791. Her story stands as one of many lived by women navigating power, loyalty and risk during this period — which is why her name felt fitting for a textile that revives the bold, expressive visual language of the 1780s.